“How do you know if you are allergic to certain medications?”
I am being prescribed a lot of medication after my back surgery. I was wondering how do you know if you are allergic to certain medications?
6 Answers
Surgeonsurgeon
Watch for rash, diarrhea, vomiting, nasal drainage...anything not normal for you
You break out in hives, beomce tachycardic, shortness of breath, dizziness. Look up the allergic side effects for that particular medicaiotn.
If the new medication you are given has similar components to other drugs you are allergic to, then you will have allergic reactions. However, if it is an entirely new drug which has no components that you are allergic to, then you will not know until you try the medication. Always read carefully the precautions and recommendations listed in the drug literature and actions on what to do in case you get drug allergy to the medication.
The doctor can do a “Patch test” to see if you are allergic to a drug. A small amount of a drug is put on your skin. After 2 to 4 days, the doctor will check for a reaction. This test can check for delayed allergic reactions to antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and other drugs. Blood test can also help diagnose some allergies to antibiotics and other drugs. This type of testing is rarely done unless there is a very high suspicion of allergy. If you are given a medication that you are allergic to, stopping the medication is usually enough to stop the reaction. If the reaction is severe, epinephrine or an antihistamine may be given. Allergic reactions are not subtle so the need to discontinue the medication is more often than not, obvious.
Allergic reactions can vary from sever swelling if the throat to a mild rash to an upset stomach with vomiting. If you have symptoms every time you take a certain medication that is a good clue but it may be a side effect and not an allergy, talk to your provider or an allergist and check with them if you have a concernSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
There are true allergies that are mild causing symptoms such as rash or hives and severe allergies such as anaphylactic reactions that causes swelling of airway or cardiovascular collapse and can lead to death. Many medications have common side effects that are not considered allergies, but may be significant side effects such as lethargy or gastrointestinal symptoms (bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea). If you are having any unusual symptoms after starting a medication, you should discuss it with your doctor who prescribed it.
